Published since 1915 by the students
of Xavier University
Published since 1915 by the students
of Xavier University
Colleen Bott
Contributing Writer
Over 50 members of the Xavier community will be heading to Fort Benning, Ga. this weekend to participate in the annual protest at the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC), formerly known as the School of the Americas (SOA).
SOA trains Latin American soldiers, and some graduates have gone on to commit human rights violations. Sophomore Chris Calme, a member of Voices of Solidarity, the Xavier club that sponsors the trip, knows a great deal about these incidents.
“The purpose of the protest is to bring greater attention to WHINSEC and the atrocities that many of its graduates have performed,” she said. “The event’s focus is also to commemorate and remember the lives of those who were killed by graduates of the school. Such people include Oscar Romero; the four women in El Salvador; and the six Jesuits, their housekeeper and her daughter.”
Sarah Beckelhimer also attended the protest last year. Her reasons for attending include preparation for an academic service learning semester in Nicaragua.
“I had heard about WHINSEC, the SOA and the relationships between Latin American countries, but I wanted to see for myself,” she said. “I was curious, so going to the protest was a way for me to find out more.”
Participants will attend non-violence training prior to leaving for Fort Benning as well as attend an Ignatian Family Teach-In, sponsored by Jesuit institutions all over the country.
“Since we are a Jesuit institution, the protest and Ignatian Teach-In coincide directly with our mission to be men and women for others. By speaking out against violations of human rights, we are being voices for the voiceless,” Calme said. “Living in America gives us all great opportunities, among those being the freedom to speak out. It is our responsibility to take what we have been given in America and what we have learned at Xavier about the dignity and worth of each person to stand up in solidarity with the oppressed.”
Students also have the opportunity to take a tour of the school led by its instructors. A non-violent march and vigil of remembrance are important aspects of the protest.
“Going to the SOA was a very powerful experience for me,” said Beckelhimer. “I was amazed at the immense number of people there from all walks of life, from clergy to college students to laborers, but we were all gathered there in peace, to learn and to teach, to sing and pray and to remember. What was most moving about it was the peacefulness of the entire experience. During the march, we walked arm-in-arm, holding crosses with the names of people who had been killed by graduates from the School of the Americas and hung them up on the fence, while singing ‘Presente’ as the names of the deceased were read. It was an atmosphere of utmost respect for those who had died, not of hate or disrespect.”
Calme hopes that students come away from the protest with a new perspective.
“It is our hope that the students who participate in the trip will learn the meaning of standing in solidarity with the oppressed. We have the hope that the trip will open all of our eyes to the greater calling that God has for all of us. The most important thing that a participant can walk away with after the event is a greater understanding of solidarity and of living out our Jesuit identity of being men and women for others.”
Any student interested in learning more about Latin American issues can stop by a Voices of Solidarity meeting in at 9 p.m. on Thursdays in the Dorothy Day House.
Emily Neubauer
Contributing Writer
On any given winter Saturday night on the campus of Xavier University, the Cintas Center is a bright spot in the dark. People pile in from all around Cincinnati dressed in navy, white and gray, some going as far as wearing face paint and wigs.
The noise is deafening while fans move toward their seats. The announcer calls out the names of the players. They run onto the court and begin to warm up. There is excitement in the air as another season gives fans new hope.
So you know the players of your favorite team, but do you ever wonder who else takes the court during a basketball game? Those girls in blue and white, cheering in favor of the home team, are the Xavier University cheerleaders.
In all the excitement of a college basketball game, the cheerleaders often get overlooked. In reality, the cheerleaders work hard and dedicate a lot of their time to instilling exhilaration in Xavier’s fans.
Most basketball fans know what it takes to be a player, but do they know what it takes to be a cheerleader?
It takes a lot to cheer for one of Xavier’s cheerleading squads. The white squad cheers for the women’s basketball games, while the blue squad cheers for the men. Both teams practice together twice a week for a total of five hours. They run, warm up, stretch, practice tumbling and practice stunts.
Cheerleaders arrive one to two hours before the game where they practice for the majority of the time, taking only minutes to get dressed.
During the game, they yell at the top of their lungs, follow the routines and excite the crowd.
But cheerleading, like every other sport or extracurricular activity, has benefits and downfalls.
Sophomore Kara Caudell, a member of the blue squad, said that tryouts were nerve-wracking, just as they would be for a baseball or a basketball team.
As a freshman, Caudell was surprised that she made the squad at all considering all the competition she faced.
Not only is it tough to make the squad, it’s difficult to keep up with it. Even though it is near impossible to fully practice outside of the gym because it could cause injury, cheerleading still takes a lot of time and energy.
“During the season we don’t have much down time because of all the games,” said Caudell.
Giving up time may be a negative, but there certainly are some positives. Cheerleaders have the best seats in Cintas Center with a perfect view of the game. “It does take up a lot of time, but I’m glad I’m doing it. It’s worth it,” said Caudell.
The next time you’re cheering our Musketeers to victory, don’t forget to cheer with the girls on the sidelines.
Nov. 6, 8:40 a.m.—Campus Police investigated the report of a suspect climbing over a wall near the Village. The suspect was gone on the police’s arrival.
Nov. 7, 3:57 p.m.—Two students reported an accident that occurred in the Elet lot.
Nov. 7, 4:30 p.m.—A student reported the theft of a parking permit in the C-2 lot.
Nov. 7, 9:40 p.m.—Two non-students using the Fencing House without authority were cited and sent on their way.
Nov. 9, 5:30 a.m.—An officer on patrol detected a large amount of water damage on the lower level of Elet Hall. The police linked the source to a mop faucet that had been left running on the second floor of the building.
Nov. 9, 8:30 a.m.—A student reported the theft of a CD and a small amount of change from an unlocked vehicle parked on the 3700 block of Ledgewood Avenue.
Nov. 9, 2:45 p.m.—A student reported damage of a vehicle that had been parked for four days in the Village lot.
Nov. 10, 4:37 p.m.—A student reported a hit-and-run accident in the C-2 lot.
Nov. 10, 5:04 p.m.—Four juveniles who had been soliciting funds on the academic mall were arrested on various charges including trespassing, theft, obstruction of official business and underage possession of alcohol.
Nov. 11, 7:10 a.m.—Physical Plant reported that there was damage done to two entrance doors in the Village.
Nov. 12, 5:45 a.m.—An officer on patrol discovered that toilet paper had been strewn across the residential mall’s greenspace.
Nov.12, 12:02 a.m.—A patron of Cintas Center reported the theft of their stereo equipment from their car parked in a reserved lot next to the R-1 car park.
Police Note of the Week
Nov. 11, 1:20 a.m.—Four students were cited for underage consumption after they were caught attempting to sneak into the pool at O’Connor Sports Center.
Kelly Shaw 
Campus News Editor
The Edward B. Bruggeman Center for dialogue invites all juniors, seniors and graduate students to apply to become a Winter-Cohen Family/Bruggeman Student Fellow for the spring semester of 2007. Contact Cynthia Cummins at the Bruggeman Center at 745-3922 or cummins@xavier.edu for more information.
ASA General Meeting
The Xavier African Students Association will be holding a dialogue entitled the “Brain Drain Migration Conversation.” The discussion will explore the advantages and disadvantages of leaving one’s country to start a new life elsewhere and promises to be an extremely engaging dialogue. Email Cherif Diagne at diagnec@xavier.edu with questions.
March for Life
If you would like to serve as a voice for the voiceless and become an active participant in the struggle to preserve life, then sign up to attend the March for Life Protest that will run from Jan. 20-22, 2007 in Washington D.C. Please bring a $10 deposit to the Dorothy Day House to secure your space. The total cost for the trip will be $35. Call Anne Feczko at 513-259-9106 or email xu4life2003@yahoo.com for more information.
Native American journalist speaks
As part of Xavier’s Equity and Excellence series and in observation of the National American Indian Heritage Month, there will be a talk by Native American journalist Mark Anthony Rolo. The discussion will take place at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday in Kelley Auditorium. Rolo will focus his dialogue on an analysis of Native American culture and identity, as well as the impact of the media, economy, health and education on the ongoing struggle for Native American survival. Contact the Diversity Office at x3539 or corder@xavier.edu.
